You know where you want to put your bar stool, the height you'll need and have an idea of what style is right for you, but perhaps you are feeling a bit inundated with where to start making choices? Why not begin with the base! Wood and metal are by far the most proliferate materials used, with a great deal of variation in both families. Some examples are as follows:
• Aluminum: durability that lends a clean, contemporary look
• Bamboo: not only a green product, but a highly workable one
• Beech: fresh and cheerful, terrific for modern and casual design schemes
• Cherry: a warm splash of color that can be used in both traditional and contemporary settings
• Chrome: a must for any "diner" setting, pairs terrifically with bright colors
• Rattan: a gorgeous, popular choice for outdoor use in drier climes
• Wrought Iron:gardens and kitchens alike will benefit from the strength and beauty of iron
Suggested: Lumisource "Hue Bar Stool" in Green
You will often find "solid hardwood" described for the material when browsing a website for bar stools. Hardwood is a higher density wood, and those most commonly used in furniture production are oaks, beech, ash, maple, and cherry. More exotic hardwoods are holly, ebony, mahogany, boxwood, lauan and teak. Because hardwood joinery is more expensive than softwood, many companies will offer a "veneer" finish, which is a thin slice of wood that is glued onto core panels of a more cost-effective material like particle board or fiberboard.
